Combination rack and stand



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R; BLAKE. COMBINATION RACK AND STAND.

Patentad Feb. 9, 1897.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

(No Model.)

BLAKE. COMBINATION BACK AND STAND. N0. 576,651. Patented Feb. 9,1897.

J H 0 I Witnesses: Ira/anion HA MW m w WW,

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEI E.

ROBIE BLAKE, OF OOR'NISH, MAINE.

COMBINATION RACK AND STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,651, dated February 9, 1897.

Application filed August 14, 1896. Serial No. 602,704. (No model.) I

1'0 LLZZ whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, ROBIE BLAKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cornish, in the county of York and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Rack and Stand; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 1

My invention relates to improvements in combination racks and stands. Its object is to provide a combination article of furniture adapted to be set on the floor and serve as a stand or table or to be converted into a combined bracket and adjustable or folding rack and attached to the Wall.

I11 the drawings herewith accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my im proved device when arranged to be used as a stand. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional View of the same arranged to be used as a bracket and folding rack, the rod to support the draperies being shown at the sides in clotted lines and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my device when used as a stand.

Same letters refer'to like parts.

In said drawings,A represents the side bars, and B B the cross-bars, of the base.

A collapsible or folding rack having jointed side bars D and connectingrods F has the ends of two of its lower side bars pivotally secured to the cross-bar B of the base, the other two ends being normally free. In one or both of the side bars of the base is a recess E, into which the connecting-rod B of the free ends of the collapsible frame may proj ect, and thus hold the frame from collapsing.

The socket E may be covered by a springclosure bar G, its free end extending over said socket and inclined slightly above the sides to allow the bar to pass thereunder into the socket and then holding it securely against accidental displacement.

The bracket consists of the vertical part II, which serves as a base, the horizontal table or shelf I, and the braces J, extendingbetween said base and table. The base 11 may be omitted, if desired, the braces being secured to the bracket or shelf only without effecting the principle of the invention. In each brace are made recesses K K, adapted to receive the cross-rods F, one at the apex of the collapsible frame and the other at the first joint below.

To prevent the bracket from being accidentally dislodged from the collapsible frame, I attach to the bracket or base a spring-hook L, which is adapted to be placed over the top cross-bar of the collapsible frame and hold it in said recesses, in which position the table is horizontal, as shown in Fig. 1. In said braces I also make deeper recesses N, in which, when the device is to be used for a rack, I place the cross-bar B of the base, as seen in Fig. 2,when the bracket is designed to be suspended upon the wall of the room, and when thus placed the rack may be folded up, as seen in Fig. 2, when not in use, or it may be extended, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when it is designed to be used as a rack. The rack may also be readily removed from the bracket by lifting the cross-bar out of .the recesses.

A towel-roller 0 may be journaled between the braces, if desired.

To conceal the bracket and rack when not in use, I secure to the sides and front edges of the table a small rod P, to which draperies may be secured in any convenient or Wellknown manner, said draperies being divided at the center of the front of the bracket and parting by sliding on the rod to each side.

To render the device when used as a table,

as shown in Fig. 1, less liable to be upset, I

make the free ends of the lower side bars of the collapsible frame somewhat shorter than the lower fixed ends of said frame, thus bringing the center of gravity nearer the center of the base.

Additional recesses Q may be made in the braces adapted to take a smaller rack when desired.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: When in use the frame is extended, as shown in Fig. 1, the base Aresting on the floor and the free ends of the side bars held temporarily in a fixed position, and when not in use the free ends are released and the collapsible frame forced down into'the position shown in Fig. 2. The bracket may ormay not be removed from the frame, as desired.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim 1. In a combination convertible stand and rack, a suitable base, a collapsible or folding rack consisting of side bars crossed and pivotally jointed together, and conneetingrods the lower ends of two of the side bars being free, the other two being pivoted to the base, and a bracket consisting of a table and braces, said braces having recesses therein adapted to receive two of the connecting-rods of said collapsible frame, one at the apex and one at the first joint below, the table being supported in a horizontal position thereby, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a combination convertible rack and stand, a suitable base, a collapsible frame having the lower extremities of two of its bars pivotally secured to said base and the lower extremities of two other bars free, means for temporarily holding said free ends at a given point on said base whereby the frame is rendered rigid, a bracket consisting of a table and suitable braces provided with recesses adapted to receive two of said connectingrods, one at the apex and one at the first joint below, and means for holding said table upon said connecting-rods, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a combination convertible stand and rack, a suitable base, a collapsible frame consisting of side bars pivotally jointed together, the lower ends of two of the side bars being free, the other two side bars being pivotally secured to the base, a bracket consisting of a table and braces, said braces having recesses therein adapted to receive two of the cross'bars in said collapsible frame, one at the apex and one at the first joint below, the table being supported in a horizontal position thereby, and a rod secured to and extending around the two sides and front edge of said table, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of August, 1896.

ROBIE BIAK'E.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK C. GILEs, ino. A. ALLEN. 

